Vegetarian and Civilization

Vegetarian and Civilization

Once we have a clear definition of civilization in our hearts, we naturally understand what kind of actions, speech, and thoughts align with civilization.

Now, let’s talk about vegetarian diet. Why does it seem that no matter what topic we discuss, it always leads back to vegetarian diet? Because vegetarian is the beginning of all positive change. It is the beginning of kindness, the start of abstaining from evil, the path to liberation, the foundation of spiritual practice, the gateway to wisdom, the means to dissolve negative karma, the starting point of personal growth, the return to our true nature, the end of suffering, and the pursuit of happiness… Most importantly, vegetarian diet is also the foundation of civilization.

A person who does not follow a vegetarian diet cannot be considered civilized, no matter how well-dressed, highly educated, or polite and kind they may appear to be. As long as their happiness and desires are built upon the suffering and harm of other living beings, they cannot truly embody civilization. I have seen various statistics before, yet even when looking at the latest 2021 slaughter data, I still find it shocking—more than 200 million chickens are slaughtered every single day, meaning that every second, around 2,300 chickens are killed to satisfy human cravings. Cows, sheep, pigs, and ducks are also slaughtered by the millions daily, not to mention the countless marine animals whose deaths are measured in the billions. How can a society where lives are taken every second in such numbers be called civilized? Littering is considered an uncivilized act, so why would the act of slaughter even be up for debate? From this perspective alone, we are far from true civilization.

Eating meat means satisfying one’s appetite at the cost of other beings’ suffering. At its core, eating meat equates to harm—it inevitably leads to killing. Therefore, by any standard of civilization I can conceive, eating meat contradicts civilization. If we wish to achieve true civilization, vegetarianism is essential. A truly civilized world must be vegetarian world.

Vegetarianism plays a crucial role in human well-being, nature, the environment, and even the entire universe. It can eliminate illness, prevent harm, dispel hatred, extend life, elevate energy, purify the body, mind, and soul, protect nature, balance yin and yang, prevent wars, mitigate disasters, and raise consciousness—all of which signify an evolution toward civilization.

However, despite humanity’s increasing material wealth and technological advancements, slaughter has only intensified. In the past, due to poverty or technological limitations, humans could not breed or produce large numbers of livestock quickly, nor did they have the means to consume meat daily. Can we truly claim that our technological progress has made us more civilized today? The mass slaughter of sentient beings who experience emotions and pain—is this truly an improvement in life quality? Is this genuinely a sign of social progress? I can say with absolute certainty that this is regression—regression in awareness, wisdom, harmony, and humanity. Above all, it is a regression in civilization.

People believe that eating meat is nutritious, yet cancer rates continue to rise. People believe that eating meat is natural, yet hatred in the world keeps growing. People believe that animals exist for human consumption, yet wars and disasters are becoming more frequent.

To pursue civilization, we must understand what true civilization is. The cessation of harm and killing is the first step toward civilization and its fundamental criterion. The phrase “Lay down the butcher’s knife and become a Buddha on the spot” carries the same wisdom. A Buddha represents the highest level of civilization and wisdom in the universe, and the path to enlightenment begins with eat vegetarian.

Let us all strive to be truly civilized individuals. Let us contribute to the advancement of human civilization—starting with vegetarian diet, stopping harm, abandoning evil, and cultivating kindness—so that we may become the best versions of ourselves.

Tina 2025-02-26 MI,USA